Having a spotlight on Snapchat can be a fun way to engage with your friends and draw attention to your snaps. Here are some tips for turning on and using the spotlight feature in Snapchat.
What is Spotlight on Snapchat?
Spotlight is a public feed inside Snapchat where anyone can submit their best Snap videos. Snapchatters can view Snaps submitted to Spotlight through a dedicated section in Snapchat Discover. Spotlight was launched by Snapchat in November 2020 as a way for creators to get their Snaps in front of a large audience and potentially earn money.
When you submit your Snap to Spotlight, it becomes eligible to receive rewards if it becomes popular and gets lots of engagement. Snapchat has dedicated millions of dollars to pay creators whose Spotlight Snaps receive high view counts. This creates an incentive for Snapchatters to submit their most creative and entertaining Snaps to Spotlight.
How to Turn on Spotlight for Your Snaps
Turning on Spotlight is easy! Just follow these steps when creating a new Snap:
- Open the Snapchat app and tap the capture button to take a photo or video Snap.
- After taking your Snap, tap the “Send To” icon in the bottom left corner.
- In the list of sharing options, tap “Spotlight” to submit your Snap.
- Spotlight will automatically crop your Snap into a vertical format. Preview the cropped Snap, then tap “Send” to confirm.
That’s it! Your Snap is now submitted to the Spotlight feed. Snapchat will review your Snap to make sure it follows their guidelines, then it will be eligible to receive views from the Spotlight audience.
Tips for Creating Great Spotlight Snaps
Not all Spotlight Snaps are created equal. Here are some tips for making Snaps that will grab attention and engagement in Spotlight:
- Be entertaining or funny. Comedy and humor tend to perform well.
- Show off a talent or skill. Singing, dancing, parkour – anything you’re good at!
- Try a creative hack or trick. Unique tips and tricks stand out.
- Use eye-catching captions to intrigue viewers.
- Leverage trends and challenges. Snaps related to viral trends get more views.
- Post frequently and consistently. The more Snaps you submit, the better chance of going viral.
Maximizing Views of Your Spotlight Snaps
Views are key to earning rewards on Spotlight. Here are some ways to get more eyes on your Spotlight Snaps:
- Post at optimal times. Evening and weekends tend to perform better when more Snapchatters are active.
- Cross-promote your Spotlight Snaps on other social platforms.
- Engage with viewers by responding to comments.
- Ask friends to watch, engage, and share your Snaps.
- Analyze which types of Snaps get you the most views and do more of those.
- Consider buying Snapchat ads to promote your best Spotlight content.
How Snapchat Determines Spotlight Rewards
Snapchat has not publicly revealed the exact formula they use to calculate Spotlight rewards. However, they have shared some insight into what factors matter:
- Views – The more views your Snap gets, the higher potential reward.
- Watch Time – Snaps that hold viewers’ attention longer earn more.
- Screenshots – People saving your Snaps is a strong signal of quality content.
While the reward criteria isn’t public, Snapchat says they are looking for Snaps that “delight the community.” Viral, engaging Snaps that get lots of views, screenshots, and watch time are most likely to earn rewards.
How Much Money Do Spotlight Snaps Earn?
Spotlight rewards are highly variable and Snapchat does not share specific payout numbers. Some factors that influence Spotlight earning potential:
- Highly viral Snaps can earn up to millions of dollars for exceptionally performing creators.
- More typical payouts for Snaps with moderate success are in the hundreds to thousands of dollars range.
- Most Spotlight Snaps receive little or no payout at all.
- Rewards are not guaranteed. Even popular Snaps may not always earn rewards.
While massive payouts are rare, Spotlight does offer the potential for your Snaps to earn real rewards if you can create content that gets significant engagement. Top creators on Spotlight treat it like a full-time job to constantly produce new viral Snaps.
Requirements to Earn Rewards on Spotlight
To receive payment for your viral Spotlight Snaps, you must meet these requirements:
- You must be 16 years or older.
- Your account must be public.
- You must fill out a creator profile with tax info to claim rewards.
- Your account must follow Snapchat’s community guidelines.
Snapchat will notify you in the app if your Snap is eligible for a reward. You can tap on the notification to fill out the required tax form to claim your payout. Rewards are issued monthly via direct deposit for U.S. creators.
Spotlight Content Guidelines
To maintain a safe community, Snapchat prohibits certain types of content from appearing in Spotlight. Prohibited content includes:
- Nudity or sexually explicit content
- Harmful or dangerous acts
- Hate speech, violence, harassment
- Misinformation or false content
- Private personal content without consent
Spotlight uses human review and machine learning to monitor submissions and remove any Snaps that violate guidelines. Repeated violations may result in a permanent ban from Spotlight.
Best Practices for Spotlight Success
Here are some top tips for creating great Spotlight Snaps that earn rewards:
- Post daily – don’t leave long gaps between submissions.
- Try new creative ideas and iterate quickly.
- Pay attention to trends and challenges taking off in Spotlight.
- Optimize your Snaps for vertical viewing.
- Use captions to encourage engagement.
- Analyze your best performing Snaps and make more like them.
- Have fun! Funny, positive energy translates.
Risks of Posting on Spotlight
While posting on Spotlight can be lucrative if your content goes viral, there are also some risks to be aware of:
- No reward guarantees – most Snaps earn $0.
- Potential for harassment or bullying in comments.
- Scams and fake promises requesting money or personal info.
- Public exposure to large audiences.
- Time consuming to create frequent viral-worthy content.
- Mental health impact of constantly seeking validation via views.
Posting personal content to Spotlight opens you up to significant public exposure. Be thoughtful about what you share and implement security measures like 2-factor authentication.
Frequently Asked Questions About Spotlight
How do I see my Snapchat Spotlight analytics?
In your Snapchat profile, tap the gear icon, then tap “Spotlight Feedback” to see view counts and watch time analytics for your last 10 Spotlight Snaps. This helps you identify your best performing content.
Can I delete a Snap I submitted to Spotlight?
Yes, you can delete a Spotlight Snap at any time by going to your Snapchat profile, tapping the Spotlight Snap you want to remove, and tapping the trash can icon.
Do Spotlight Snaps expire?
Yes, Snaps submitted to Spotlight follow the same rules as regular Snapchat Stories and will expire after 24 hours. Your Snap will no longer appear in Spotlight after expiring.
Can I submit Snaps from Snapchat Memories to Spotlight?
No, only new Snaps taken directly in the Snapchat camera can be submitted to Spotlight. You cannot submit existing Memories or Camera Roll photos to Spotlight at this time.
How old do you have to be to submit to Spotlight?
You must be at least 16 years old to submit Snaps to Spotlight. If you are younger than 16, you will not see the “Send to Spotlight” option when posting Snaps.
Conclusion
Spotlight gives Snapchatters the opportunity to share their content with a wide audience and potentially earn cash rewards. While going viral is never guaranteed, you can increase your odds of success on Spotlight by posting frequently, engaging viewers, optimizing for vertical video, and analyzing your performance data.
Remember to keep Spotlight Snaps fun, positive, and safe. Avoid prohibited content in order to keep the Spotlight community a friendly place for creativity. With persistence and good Snap sense, you could make real money by delighting Snapchatters on Spotlight!